Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Illustration Contest Win!

This past weekend was the Midsouth SCBWI conference in Nashville for children's book writers and illustrators. I won the illustration contest there - whoo hoo! The Art Director from Henry Holt, Patrick Collins, gave the illustrators text from a couple picture book manuscripts, and we painted a spread from one of the books for the contest. The text on my illustration above is from the picture book, Don't Lick the Dog, written by Wendy Wahman.

The conference was fabulous and I intend to blog some of my notes next week. Right now I'm heading out on a roadtrip to the Highlights for Children Illustrator's Weekend and to visit friends on the way. Highlights magazine hosts an Illustrator's Weekend every year where they invite their illustrators to eastern Pennsylvania to relax, view portfolios, square dance, and get dressed up in crazy costumes. I'm excited!

Hi Kristi,Katie Mitschelen sent me your link and WOW! is all I can say. I love what you did with my text. I'm guessing Patrick did not show the book before the assignment, in which case that we both chose to hand write the word 'Enough' is doubly cool.

Chuck - it was great to meet you too at the Illustrator's Party and congrats on your new little girl!

Wendy - wow, thanks for commenting. I'm so glad you enjoyed my art with your text. Patrick didn't show us your book beforehand, so it was super fun to see all the different approaches that the illustrators took to illustrate the text, including your own! Congrats on your future books that you have coming out in the next couple years that I saw on your website. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your books out there.

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About Me

Kristi Valiant is the author/illustrator of PENGUIN CHA-CHA (Random House). Some of the recent books Kristi has illustrated are PRETTY MINNIE IN PARIS and PRETTY MINNIE IN HOLLYWOOD by the #1 New York Times bestselling author, Danielle Steel (Doubleday), THE GOODBYE CANCER GARDEN by Janna Matthies (Albert Whitman), CORA COOKS PANCIT by Dorina K Lazo Gilmore (Shen's Books), and Cecilia Galante's early chapter book series "Little Wings" (Random House).
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